The wanderlust is real. I've always cringed hearing people say that, and yet here I am using it. A friend and I took a quick trip to Savannah only a few weeks ago, and I'm already ready to go somewhere else. 3 day weekends are great if you have limited vacation time, or just want to spend a few days in a new city. Our goal was to find a balance between eating the best food, drinking, sightseeing, and shopping. Here is a roundup of the food and drinks from our weekend.
The Food:
Sweet Potatoes Kitchen: Featured on Man vs Food, this place is located outside of the historic district and was a perfect place to stop after a long day on the road. Located in an unassuming location on the side of the road, its an easy place to miss, but the food inside is amazing. For Lunch on Friday, I had Pecan Encrusted Chicken with Sweet Potato Butter, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts and for Dessert, Banana Pudding and Chocolate Pecan Pie.
The Grey: Maybe it was bad timing, but this was the hardest places to get a reservation at. But with persistence (i.e. calling a few times to see if someone cancelled a reservation), we got in Friday night. Don't come here expecting a greasy southern meal. The food and atmosphere is reminiscent of an upscale New York restaurant; crisp white linens, an amuse bouche prior to the meal, and a high level of service and attention to detail that I've never experienced. For the meal we had Crispy Coppa, Honey Glazed Duck Breast with Smashed New Potatoes and Rutabagas.
The Olde Pink House: Sorry Grey, I take back what I said, I think it may have been the weekend of our visit (prom, military ball, music festival), but this was also a very difficult place to get into. We couldn't get reservations, but were able to grab walk up seating with an 1.5 hour wait (just enough time to run back to the hotel and change). I had Braised Pork Shank with pineapple glaze, macaroni and cheese and collard greens.
Huey's On The River: Pro Tip, they allow call ahead seating. In doing that, I walked up to the hostess (and past a line of about 30 people) and was seated immediately. Although in Savannah, they are serving up New Orleans classics (hello beignets), and while their Crabcake Benedict is a favorite, I decided on the Seafood Omelette, stuffed with shrimp, crab, scallop and topped with a thermador sauce.
Check back later for full recaps of each of my dining experiences.
The Drinks:
Wet Willies: When a city allows you to drink alcoholic beverages in public, you take full advantage of it. In comes a bar that sells frozen daiquiris mixed with 190 proof grain alcohol (hello Attitude Improvement), it was a sure fire way to get the weekend party started.
Rocks on the Roof: A rooftop bar located on top of the Bohemian Hotel, this place offers gorgeous views of the water. Unfortunately, we missed out on those seats, but we scurried to the back and found even nicer views of the historic city.
The Grey: Yes, they are making a double appearance. I knew this place was winning when upon ordering a Whiskey Sour they asked me if I wanted it with or without the egg. I pressured my friend to order a classic daiquiri, and she enjoyed it. If you can't get a dinner table seat, sit at the bar and have a cocktail (or two).
World of Beer: Broughton St is still within the area of public drinking, and after a few hours of shopping, having a beer was an item on my list. Even the most indecisive person (admittedly me) can find something here, and if not, the bartenders can point you in the right direction. I had Orpheus Brewing Atalanta, a tart and sour beer, just my preference.
O'Connell's: Located right off of Broughton on Drayton St, this Irish Bar is marketing themselves in the best way. With no public bathrooms to be found, and places only allowing paying customers to use them, we decided to be practical with our purchase and stop in for a b-room visit and a drink.
Of course there is much more to Savannah then just eating and drinking, come back next week to get a recap of the best shopping and sightseeing in the area.